“ G erri and Barry are getting married at Mirror Key, and Barry’s insanely wealthy grandparents are paying for everything. Every. Thing. ”
“Gerri and Barry are getting married?” I step out of my pink scrubs and matching rubber shoes bedecked with tiny charms along the top and sides. “Sounds like a bad kids’ book.” I hope I can deflect Mama into criticizing my sense of humor—instead of my dating life.
“Will you hush? When I say everything, I mean everything . We’re talking plane tickets, food, shuttle service, and rooms at an all-inclusive private resort for everyone in the family. Apparently, they own Reflections Resort and half the damn island!”
“It sounds like Gerri’s going to be living it up,” I say.
I’m happy for my baby cousin. She was born when I was ten, and I became her babysitter as soon as I hit eleven.
It was a role I loved and took seriously until I left for college.
Gerri was and still is cute, sweet, petite, and totally the kind of girl to leave college with a diploma in one hand and a rock the size of a beach ball on the other.
“We’re all going to be living it up. Aunties, uncles, cousins, Grandma and Poppy, everyone. You need to put your request for leave in right now.”
“Okay, Mama, I will. But shouldn’t I wait to get their Save the Date card or their invitations, or something?”
“Ordinarily I’d say yes, but the wedding is in six weeks.”
“Six weeks ?” I screech.
“Well, yes. You know Gerri’s a teacher. Half of your aunts are teachers.
If they want to go to this wedding, it has to be during spring break or over the summer.
Apparently, Barry’s family already has the island and resort booked for the summer, but they’re juggling a few things and opening a newly renovated wing of the hotel early just for Barry and Gerri’s wedding. ”
“You got all the tea, Mama. Okay. I’ll email my supervisor as soon as I get out of the shower.”
“You’re taking this well, Minerva.”
“Damn, Mama. Not the full name. I’m fine.” I roll my eyes and lean on the bathroom sink, not sure if I want to look over my shoulder and see just how ginormous my ass looks from behind in the flickering fluorescent vanity lights.
“Are you sure you’re fine? Gerri’s fresh out of college, and she’s already got a man. And you...”
I bite my lip so hard I’m worried about blood shooting across the room.
With a shaking breath, I tell Mama, “I. Am. Proud. Of. Gerri. And I love Barry, too. Also, I’m minding my own business, and I’m fine.”
Let me back up. Gerri graduated in December (half a year early because she’s smart as well as cute as hell) with her degree in math education, a minor in special education, and a sweet, sexy boyfriend who looks like a blonde Christopher Reeve down to the cleft in his chin and the single springy curl on his forehead.
At Christmas, Barry gave her a golden retriever named Bruno.
We’re two weeks into January, and he’s adding wedding bells.
Good for her.
Did you expect me to be jealous?
I don’t do that shit.
I turn on the shower and look in the mirror.
I’m not worried that life has passed me by because my cousin is getting married at twenty-two and I’m still single at thirty-two.
I’m not moaning into my pint of Ben and Jerry’s that she snagged someone who probably subscribes to Yacht Club Monthly and could pose for a toothpaste commercial.
Gerri is happy. Barry is a sweetie.
Mama on the other hand... “That’s your trouble. You think you’re fine. You’re almost forty, and soon you’ll wish—”
“Almost forty! Mother!”
“You’re in your mid-thirties!”
“ Early thirties!”
“Right, practically forty!”
“Mama, I can’t with you right now.”
My mother is undeterred. “You know you’re going to be the only one to show up to this wedding without a significant other. At your age, too!”
“Lord, give me strength.”
“Now, your father was talking to Barry’s father at their New Year’s Eve party, and Barry has a single cousin who is an orthodontist with his own practice in Annapolis. Do you know they make more money than most dentists?”
“You are not trying to fix me up with someone who lives three states away, Mama!”
“You’ll be together for five days at the wedding. It’ll be a romantic week—”
“A week? Why do we have to be there for almost a week?” I put the phone on the edge of the shower, turn it to speaker, and tuck my hair into a shower cap. I need to wash off the scent of the hospital and the tension of this conversation.
“You’re going to be a bridesmaid, of course. The first day will be arrival, cocktails, and a family dinner. The second day will be a family beach day. I’m sure people can go off on their own in between all these events, too—”
“Are you reading off of something?” I ask wearily.
“Aunt Belinda sent me the itinerary. You’ll probably get yours this week—oh, and act surprised when Gerri calls you later. I’m not supposed to have said anything.”
“Oh, God...”
My mother could have a career as a battering ram.
She just keeps plowing ahead. “Now, day three is a spa day and rehearsal dinner at night. Day four is the wedding and reception—noon to midnight it says, and then on day five, you need to check out by eleven. You’ll have five days with Barry’s cousin, who is going to be a groomsman. I’m sure—”
“Mama, I’m going to bring my boyfriend.” The words burst out before I can hold them in.
Mama goes silent.
My momentary feeling of victory vanishes the longer the silence goes on—because I don’t have a boyfriend. And Mama’s silence means that she’s just reloading. “I gotta g—”
“Boyfriend? Boyfriend!? What boyfriend? How long have you been dating? When were you going to say something? Where did you meet him? Why did I not know about this? Chuck! Minnie has a boyfriend!”
“Mama, don’t get Daddy invol—”
“A boyfriend! About damn time. How serious is it? How long have they been dating? What does he do for work?”
“Oh, damn it, I’m getting paged. I’m on call. We’ll talk later.”
“Don’t think you’re getting out of this. Tomorrow night. Facetime.”
“Yep, okay. Love you, bye!”
I sag against the shower.
“Well. That was stupid. Not like I can ‘rent a boyfriend’ for spring break.”